Machine for assembling box blanks



July 10, 1951 L. TmoLc 2,560,315

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING BOX BLANKS Filed Aug. 4, 1949 5 Sheets-Shea}: 1

N a "n g INVENTOR.

July 10, 1951 L. TRIOLO MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING BOX BLANKS Filed Aug. 4, 1949' 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

y 1951 L. TRIOLO 2,560,315

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING BOX BLANKS Filed Aug. 4, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 10, 1951 TRIOLO MACHINE FQR ASSEMBLING BOX BLANKS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 4, 1949 July 10, 1951 TRIOLO 2,560,315

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING BOX BLANKS j Filed Aug. 4, 1949 5 Sheets-She et 5 z INVENTOR.

Patented July 10, 1951 UNITED STATES B ATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING BOX BLANKS Louis Triolo, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application August 4, 1949, Serial No. 108,455

10 Claims.

Thi invention relates to an improved box making machine and relates more particularly to a novel machine adapted primarily, although not exclusively, for making boxes from plastic materials wherein heat must be applied for the making of permanent creases to the box blank prior to the application of adhesive to the side walls or to the gluing tabs.

Boxes formed from many of the clear, transparent plastic materials are more highly favored than cardboard boxes with the usual wrapping or lining. The contents are always visible which is useful for display purposes and give a more attractive :and framed appearance than is otherwise the case. The use of boxes made from .these plastic materials has been limited, however, due to their excessive cost because of the fact that the special techniques required in heatcreasing the fold lines has, in most instances, made it necessary to form the boxes largely or wholly by hand.

The machine of the present invention is surficiently flexible to form boxes of various sizes and shapes and is illustrated as set up for forming a box composed of a bottom wall and side walls, two of which are formed with gluing tabs. The blank is first operated on by amachine which forms the crease lines defining the base wall and the machine of the present invention takes this partially creased blank and produces the finished box.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a machine of this character which is automatic in operation except for a single operator who applies the blank to a vertically reciprocating forming block. Suction means retain the end Walls and bottom wall of the blank on the forming block as the latter descends t the operating station and during such descent, novel brushing means advance and retain the side walls against the block. During this downward travel the blank wipes past adhesive-applying fingers to which the adhesive is fed after each operation to assure a good bond between the walls and the tabs. On reaching its lowered position, heated corner-pressing members ad- Vance which form a permanent crease line for the tabs. Then, while the blank is supported immovable on the forming block, pressure is applied to the tabs, pressing them firmly into engagement with the adhesive-applied portions of the end walls and retaining such pressure for sufiicient time to effect a, permanent bond.

As the forming block now ascends, descending fingers remove the box and as it falls, it is kicked 2 from the path of the block descending for the next cycle.

Another object of the present invention is :to provide accurately-timed elements which operate on the side and end walls, both during downward travel as well as at the creasing and gluing station. These elements include brushes which assure firm contact with the 'block, pressure members which advance after the block has reached the latter station and hold the walls immovable during creasing and pressing on novel heated creasers which have a, wiping action on the corner sections of the box to get a clean, permanent crease line.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying the present invention, parts of the cam shaft and other parts of the apparatus being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a broken plan view of the machine, parts of the upper structure being broken away to show certain operating parts of the assembly, the view being partly in section, the section being taken on line 2'2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a broken vertical section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a broken perspective view of a corner section of the box which is formed by the machine and showing the heat applying means and the corner presser assembly.

Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 4 but shows the adhesive applying means.

Fig. 6 is a broken vertical section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a broken vertical section taken on line 1--1 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a broken side elevation of a part of the driving means.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the creased blank in flat condition.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the completed box.

Fig. 11 is a broken side elevation of the upper section of the machine and showing the upper portion of the cam shaft, the head which supports the plunger and the driving means therefor.

Fig. 12 shows the drive for the wiper which removes the finished box from the forming block.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary end view showing the means for controlling the suction line leading to the forming block.

Fig. 14 is a section taken on line I4! 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 15 is a section taken on line l5-| 5 of Fig. 2.

A box blank I!) of the type which is operated on by the machine of the present invention is shown in Fig. 9. The blank is initially flat and crease lines I I which define the base wall I2 are formed by the machine which is disclosed in my co-pending applicationserial No. 108,455 filed August 4, 1949. The blank further includes end walls I3, and side walls I4 provided with gluing tabs l5 at opposite ends thereof.

The machine of the present invention takes the creased blank, forms a crease line I6 be tween the gluing tabs I5 and the side walls i4 while applying heat to such crease line to make the crease permanent, folds the tabs externally of the end walls, applies adhesive to the end walls where the tabs are to be adhered and then presses the tabs into engagement with such end walls for sufficient time to allow the adhesive to harden, and finally ejects the finished box from the machine.

All the operative parts are mounted in a frame 2!! which provides a journal bearing for a vertical cam shaft H to which plural driving cams are keyed to operate the several moving parts. The cam shaft is driven by a motor (not shown) and the driving assembly may include a one revolution clutch arrangement to impart a single revolution to the cam shaft when a foot treadle associated with a control shaft is depressed.

A forming block 23 is shaped to fit the internal contour of the finished box shown in Fig. 10, such block being mounted at the lower end of a plunger 24 mounted for vertical reciprocating movement in a head 25.

The block is formed with internal channels, several of which shown at 33 communicate with the end walls of the block and several moreof which, shown at 3I, communicate with the lower wall thereof. These channels lead to a conduit 32 which leads to a suction pump (not shown).

A rotary slide valve member 33 forming the moving part of an air valve 29 is arranged to open and close by a link 34 connected therewith, the link being connected with a lever 35 and carrying a roller 36 which engages acam 37 carried on cam shaft 2!. Lever 35 is pivoted at 38. A spring 4I connected with the valve member urges the roller associated with the movable valve assembly into engagement with the periphery of the cam.

Thus, when the creased blank is placed upon the bottom of the forming block the lower channels 3I exert suction on the lower wall I2 of the box and the operator simultaneously moves the end walls of the box into engagement with the end walls of the block where end wall channels 3% apply suction and thus hold the blank firmly on the block during the creasing and adhering operation.

Plunger 24 is moved downwardly by a lever 42 pivoted at 43 and which carriesa roller disposed in a groove 44 in the periphery of a drum cam 45 also'keyed to the cam shaft. At the finish of the operation the valve member is moved to closed position by cam 31 and the suction in the line is neutral.

At the finish of the operation the completed box is removed from the forming block by means of fingers 50 carried by a cross piece 5! secured at the lower ends of rods 52 which are mounted for vertical reciprocating movement on head 25. These fingers are operated by a bell crank lever, one leg 53 of which is connected to the cross piece at 54. The bell crank lever is pivoted at 55 on a frame member 56 which supports head 25. The other leg 60 of the bell crank lever carries a roller 6| which is driven by a lower cam. sur

4 I face 62 on drum cam 45. This cam surface is arranged to cause the fingers to descend as the forming block ascends and at the instant the finished box is removed from the block it is kicked from the machine by a reciprocating horizontal plunger 63 (Fig. 11) which is operated by a suit able cam (not shown) associated with the cam shaft.

As the block carrying the creased blank cescends, the lower wall of the block and the blank contact a depressible platform 64 which is carried at the upper end of a plunger 55 mounted for vertical reciprocating movement in a socket 66. A spring (not shown) within the socket returns the plunger upwardly when it is released for upward travel by return of block 23.

During its downward travel on block 23 the end walls I3 are treated with an adhesive in the areas contacted by tabs I5 by the following means: Shafts l5 and ii are iournalled at 69 in the frame and are spaced from such end walls of the box during its downward travel. Levers I2 keyed to such shafts support fibrous adhesive applicators I3. The adhesive is fed from containers I4 into wells I5 and the levers '12 are moved from a lowered position, wherein the applicators enter the wells, to the vertical position of Fig. 3 in the path of such end Walls during their downward travel. The end walls thus wipe past the applicators and when the blank gets to its lowermost position it is ready for the creasing and pressing operation.

Means for moving levers I2 through this arc comprise gears 'IB and I? (Fig. 8) keyed to shafts Ill and II. Gear 16 is engaged by a rack 8| car ried by a block 82 secured to a rod 33 mounted for reciprocating movement in bearings 85. Gear 11 is driven by an idler 81 which is engaged by a rack 86 also secured to rod 83. Thus, when rod 83 is moved to the left when shown as in Fig. 8, counter-clockwise rotation is imparted to shaft It. This movement also imparts clockwise rotation to shaft II due to the presence of idler 81 thus causing both applicators I3 to enter the wells to become moistened by the adhesive or solvent. This movement to the left is produced by means of a spring 88. Opposite movement to the right is caused by a lever 9| (Fig. 1) which is pivoted at 92 on the frame and which has a roller 93 which engages a cam 94. A set screw carried on rod 83 is used for effecting an ad justment of the stroke of rod 33.

Means for operating on the side walls E4 of the blank comprise an upper reciprocating slide I98 on each side of the machine, each such slide being mounted for sliding movement in trackways IlJI mounted on a plate I92 secured to the frame. A spring 99 drives the upper slide inwardly. Outward movement is imparted to the slide by a crank I03, pivotally connected with a lever I04 carrying a bushing IE5. The crank is keyed to a shaft I06 journalled in the frame. Bushing I05 engages a collar I61 keyed to a shaft I08 which is connected by a bracket I09 with upper slide I00. Means for rocking shafts I116 comprise a cam I Ill (Fig. 1) carried on the cam shaft which is engaged by a roller III which imparts movement to a lever IIZ connected with a link II3 connected to a crank IE4 at the rear end of shaft I06 on each side of the machine. The cam is so shaped as to impart two-step intermittent forward motion to the slide, for a purpose to be described, and a continuous return motion. Thus, spring 99 moves the upper slide Itiil inwardly as such movementv is permitted by the two-step intermittent inward movement of the crank 103 keyed to shaft I06.

A transverse rod I I! is secured to the forward end of each upper slide :Iilli such rod carrying a pair of spaced brackets 'I-IB which are adjustably secured to the rod to provide means for operating on box blanks of dilferent sizes. Each bracket H8 carries a presser plate I which engages the side walls 44 of the blank to support them in vertical position against the forming block 23:during the pressing operation. Brackets I I8 further support heated creasing members I2I which are loosely mounted on such brackets but are retained generally perpendicular to the brackets by springs I22 (Fig. 14). Any suitable electrical heating means (not shown) may be used for heating creasing members HI and it will be noted that such members have diagonal faces which engage the corner sections of the box. As the slide I00 moves inwardly towards the blank, the diagonal faces of the creasing members contact the corner sections of the box and upon such contact, they tend to move outwardly due to their relatively loose mounting on bracket I I8. Before such outward movement continues for more than a fraction of an inch, they are contacted by fingers I24 mounted on a different assembly yet to be described. Such fingers I24 move the heating members I2I inwardly into firm engagement with the corner sections of the box thus effecting permanent crease lines I6.

During the course of its downward movement, the side walls of the blank are moved inwardly by brushes I25 which are carried at the forward end of a second slide I26 mounted for reciprocating movement in slideways I30. This lower slide is moved inwardly by a spring I3! as such inward movement is permitted by the action of upper slide I00. A bracket 32 extends upwardly from the rear end of the lower slide I 26 and carries an adjustable set screw I33 which contacts a projection I34 on bracket I09.

Spring IBI causes the lower slide to follow the upper slide inwardly, the movement being controlled by set screw 133. A suitable stop limits inward movement of the lower slide carrying the brushes and both slides move conjointly during the first step of this two-step movement of the upper slide. The brushes then function to Wipe the side walls of the blank inwardly during downward travel of the forming block and this occurs before the heaters I2I have moved fully inwardly. The second step of the two-step movement occurs after the forming block is in fully lowered position at which time pressers I20 5 and heaters I2: do their work.

After the adhesive has been applied to the end walls and the corner sections have been creased the tabs are pressed into engagement with :the end walls by presser members I which are mounted on slides MI which are mounted for reciprocating movement in trackways I42. This slide is moved inwardly by a spring I43 and .is moved outwardly by a cam drive comprising a bell-crank lever pivoted at I44, one leg I45 of which is connected with the slide. The other leg M5 is connected at I41 to a link I5I arranged for sliding movement in a support I 52. A similar arrangement is disposed at each end of the box and links I5l are moved downwardly to retract slides I4! by a horizontal lever I53 connected with a bushing 54 mounted for sliding movement on the outside of hollow post 66.

A lever I55 has a slot I56 which receives a pin I51 carried by bushing I54. This lever is moved :up and .down vbymeans .of cm (not shown) carried on the cam shaft. Thus, .as the link vI5-I moves upwardly it frees slide I4I for inward movement.

An upper slide I60 supported .in trackways I 6 I on the upper-surface of slide I4I has an upwardly extending bracket I63 carrying upper and lower "brushes 462 which hold the end walls of the box inwardly as the blank is carried down on the forming block. Aspring I64 moves upper slide inwardly in advance of the lower slide, its movement, however. being limited by a slot I53 in the rear end of :the upper slide which receives a pin I 67 secured .to the lower slide.

The cam just mentioned which controls movement of slides MI is similar to the cam which controls movement of transverse slide use in that it provides for two-step inward movement of slides MI and on the first step of this movement the slides I 60 carried thereby are moved inwardly to permit brushes I62 to perform their function. On the second step slides I60 move inwardly to their maximum inward position, causing presser members I40 and fingers I24 to do their work.

The details of presser members I43 and fingers I24 and of their mounting on slides I4I will now be described. The forward end of each slide MI is provided with an upwardly extending flange IN to which a block I12 is secured at each end thereof, the block being bifurcated at I13 to receive the flange. One through channel I14 in the block provides a sliding support for finger I24 which is urged inwardly by a spring H5 and inward movement is limited by a set screw Ilfi carried by :a bracket.

The pressure member I40 may be secured to a bracket I:1-'I which is pivoted to a slide I84 mounted for longitudinal movement in another through channel I 82. A spring I83 carried on a set screw I84 urges slide I81 inwardly. A set screw 1'05 limits inward movement of this slide.

in Figure 4 presser member I40 is shown as of simpler construction than the arrangement just described.

The operation of the machine is as follows. The operator takes the creased blank Id of Figure 9 and applies it to the bottom wall of forming block 23. Since crease lines I I have been formed and the side and end walls are folded upwardly no difficulty is experienced in properly aligning these crease lines with the lower edges of the block.

The foot treadle which operates the one revolution clutch is now depressed starting a cycle of operation. The first movement opens valve 53 setting up suction in line 32 and as the block descends the end walls I3 are moved inwardly by the operator to cause end wall channels 35) to function along with bottom wall channels St to hold the blank.

Adhesive appliers it move to vertical position and wipe the end walls during descent. Slides I00 and MI move the first step inwardly carrying slides I26 and I60 and brushes in and IE2 mounted thereon.

When the block reaches its downward position slides I00 move inwardly the second step moving pressure blocks I20 against the side walls of the block and causing heated pressure members 52! to wipe the corner section of the block. Slides I are timed to move their second step inwardly a fraction of a second later and during this movement fingers I24 engaged heated pressure members, thus completing the corner creasing. Pressure members I40 are carried inwardly and exert pressure on the corner tabs 45 and hold the pressure long enough for the bond to be complete.

The block now rises carrying with it the finished blank which is engaged by descending fingers 50 which strip the box from the block. Kicker 63 engages the blank when in mid air and moves it onto a table (not shown), thus clearing the path for the next cycle.

While one form or embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein for illustrative purposes, and the construction and arrangement incidental to a specific application thereof have been disclosed and discussed in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is limited neither to the mere details or relative arrangement of parts, nor to its specific embodiment shown herein, but that extensive deviations from the illustrated form or embodiment of the invention may be made without departing from its principles thereof.

What I claim is:

1. In a box machine, the combination of a reciprocable forming block for supporting the bottom and side walls of a creased box blank, slides movable towards the side walls of the blanl: and carrying heating members for engaging the corner sections of the box to permanently crease the edge of the corner tabs; members for applying adhesive to the walls of the box, and slides provided with tab-engaging pressure blocks which move towards such tabs after the creasing operation to press the tabs into engagement with the end walls.

2. In a box machine, the combination of a frame, a reciprocating forming block having suction means for securing the bottom and end walls of a creased box blank, reciprocating slides movable towards the side walls of the blank and carrying pressure blocks for supporting such side walls and heating members for engaging the corner sections of the box to permanently crease the edge of the corner tabs, supplemental slides which move inwardly in advance of said reciprocating slides and which carry side-wall engaging brushes, adhesive applying members which wipe the end walls as the block descends, and end wall. slides provided with tab-engaging pressure blocks which move towards such tabs after the creasing operation to press the tabs into engagement with the end walls, and supplemental slides carried by the end wall slides provided with brushes which engage the end walls as the block descends.

3. In a box machine, the combination of a reciprocating forming block arranged to support the bottom and end walls of a creased box blank, reciprocating slides movable towards the side walls of the blank and carrying pressure blocks for supporting such side walls and loosely mounted heating members for engaging the corner sections of the box to permanently crease the edge of the corner tabs, such heating members having diagonal faces which engage the corner sections with a wiping action, supplemental slides associated with said reciprocating slides which move inwardly in advance of the latter and which carry side-wall engaging brushes, adhesive applying members which wipe the end walls as the block descends, and end wall slides provided with tab-engaging pressure blocks which move towards such tabs after the creasing operation to press the tabs into engagement with the end walls, and fingers car- \8 v ried by such slides which engage the heating members.

l. In a box machine, the combination of a frame, a reciprocating forming block having means for securing the bottom and end walls of a creased box blank, reciprocating slides movable towards the side walls of the blank and carrying pressure blocks for supporting such side walls and heating members for engaging the corner sections of the box to permanently crease the edge of the corner tabs, pivoted adhesive applying members which wipe the end walls as the block descends, wells for feeding such adhesive, and end wall slides provided with tab- -engaging pressure blocks which move towards such tabs after the creasing operation to press the tabs into engagement with the end walls.

'5. In a box machine, the combination of a frame, a cam shaft provided with plural cams journalled in the frame, a reciprocating forming block having suction means for securing the bottom and end walls of a creased box blank,

reciprocating slides movable towards the side walls of the blank and carrying pressure blocks for supporting such side walls and heating members for engaging the corner sections of the box to permanently crease the edge of the corner tabs, adhesive applying members which wipe the end walls as the block descends, and end wall slides provided with tab-engaging pressure blocks which move towards such tabs after the creasing operation to press the tabs into engagement with the end walls, and brushes which move inwardly in advance or" such slides and which engage the side and end walls as the block descends.

6. In a box machine, the combination of a reciprocating forming block having suction 'means for securing the bottom and end walls of a creased box blank, reciprocating slides movable towards the side walls of the blank and carrying pressure blocks for supporting such side walls and loosely mounted heating members provided with diagonal faces for engaging the corner sections of the box with a wiping action to permanently crease the edge of the corner tabs,

spring means for normally maintaining the heating members generally parallel with the slide, supplemental slides carried by said reciprocating slides which move inwardly in advance of said reciprocating slides and which carry side-wall engaging brushes, adhesive applying members which wipe the end walls as the block descends,

and end wall slides provided with tab-engaging pressure blocks which move towards such tabs after the creasing operation to press the tabs into engagement with the end walls.

'7. In a machine for making boxes from plastic material, the combination of a frame, a vertically reciprocating forming block having suction means for securing the bottom and end walls of a creased box blank, reciprocating slides movable towards the side walls of the blank and carrying pressure blocks for supporting such side walls and heating members formed with diagonal faces which engage the corner sections of the box with a wiping action to permanently crease the edge of the corner tabs, pivoted adhesive applying members which wipe the end walls as the block descends, and end wall slides provided with tab-engaging pressure blocks which move towards such tabs after the creasing operation to press the tabs into engagement with the end walls, supplemental slides provided with brushes move inwardly in advance of said slides and which engage the side and end walls as the block descends, spring means for moving the slides inwardly, a cam shaft provided with plural cams journalled in the frame and levers engaging such cams for operating the moving parts of the machine.

8. In a machine for operating on a box blank having a lower wall, end walls, and side walls formed with corner tabs, the combination of a frame, a vertically reciprocating forming block for supporting the blank, slides mounted on the frame which are movable towards the side walls of the blank and carrying heating members for engaging the corner sections of the box to permanently crease the edges of the corner tabs, members for applying adhesive to the walls of the box, and slides provided with tab-engaging pressure blocks which move towards such tabs after the creasing operation to press the tabs into engagement with the end walls.

9. In a machine for operating on a creased box blank having a bottom wall, end walls and side walls formed with corner tabs, the combination of a frame, a vertically reciprocating forming block having suction means for securing the bottom and end walls of the blank, reciprocating slides movable towards the side walls of the blank and carrying pressure blocks for supporting such side walls and heating members for engaging the corner sections of the box to permanently crease the edge of the corner tabs, said side-wall engaging brushes associated with said slides, adhesive applying members which wipe the end walls as the block descends, and end wall slides provided with tab-engaging pressure blocks which move towards such tabs after the creasing operation to press the tabs into engagement with the end walls.

10. In a box machine, the combination of a vertically reciprocating forming block arranged to support the bottom and end walls of a creased box blank formed with side wallsand corner tabs, reciprocating slides movable towards two opposed side walls of the blank and carrying pressure blocks for supporting such side walls and heating members for engaging the corner sections of the box to permanently crease the edges of the corner tabs, such heating members having diagonal faces which engage the corner sections with a wiping action, adhesive applying members which wipe the remaining side walls as the block descends, and side wall slides provided with tab-engaging pressure blocks which move towards such tabs after the creasing operation to press the tabs into engagement with the end walls.

LOUIS TRIOLO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,113,715 Taylor Oct. 13, 1914 1,563,184 Goss Nov. 24, 1925 1,889,574 Schmiedel Nov. 29, 1932 2,120,214 Gregoire June '7, 1938 2,210,509 Strauch Aug. 9, 1940 2,402,548 Guyer June 25, 1946 2,500,338 Bergstein Mar. 14, 1950 

